To work through a problem, I need to speak to other people and share my thoughts and feelings. However, I find that in order to really connect to my innermost thoughts, I need to write. Writing allows my thinking to slow. It helps me wrestle with my ideas and commit to what I believe to be true. It’s frequently through writing that I solve my own problems.

For our students, all too often writing is formulaic rather than fluid. Focused on the five paragraph essay, writing can become rigid and inflexible. But there’s beauty in writing when it’s driven by the ideas and structure of the author. As a teacher, think about the power of connecting different subjects to writing to expand the contexts in which our students write. As your students take ownership of their ideas, you might even consider the possibility of introducing them to blogging.

Writing allows teachers and students to share who we are — to tell our stories. It ignites our thinking and empowers us to take a stand. This week, I encourage you to reach out to your writers and ask them this simple but complex question — why do you write? Then revel in the individuality of each student as you listen to the responses.